Baltimore City Schools Report Finds Charter Schools More Diverse and More Popular with Parents

Baltimore, MD, May 02, 2009 --(PR.com)-- A report by Baltimore City Schools studying the impact and progress of Baltimore City's growing charter school movement shows that charters are more diverse in terms of race and socio-economic background than the city's traditional public schools. The report also found that charter schools boast better attendance and are more popular among parents. As evidenced in the Baltimore City Report on Charter Schools, city charter schools are providing a valuable choice option for parents, students and teachers. Findings include:

Baltimore City Charter Schools tend to have a positive school climate
Baltimore city charter schools exhibit low exit rates at 7.45%.

· The number of city students attending charter schools has more than doubled since 2005/2006 school year from 2,925 students to 5,520 students.
· Overall, charter school students are less likely to transfer out of their charter school and have higher retention rates.
· Charter school parents, students and staff tend to give charter schools high positive ratings, with 85% of the respondents answering positively on climate survey items.
· Only 6% of charter school middle school students missed more than 20 days of school.
· Charter Schools in Baltimore City have strong attendance rates for all school types across all three years and for 2008, had stronger attendance than the state average for middle schools, and ranked at the state average for all other grades.
· Charter Schools tend to have lower suspension rates.

Baltimore City Charter Schools are seeing solid academic growth

· Nearly 70% of charter schools in Baltimore City have made AYP.
· On average, the number of students proficient or advanced has increased yearly at all grade levels.

"This is further evidence of the growth and maturity of Baltimore's charter schools, which are a huge part of Maryland's charter school movement," noted Dave Miller, Director of the Maryland Charter School Network. "Charter schools are providing more educational options for families in Baltimore, and in a number of schools, they are bringing families back in to Baltimore's public school system."

Charter schools, their successes, and their contributions to children, families and communities will be celebrated this year during National Charter School Week from May 3-May 8, 2009. MCSN is a non-partisan, nonprofit, statewide organization whose mission is to promote and serve the Maryland charter school movement. For more information about the Maryland Charter School Network, please call 800-689-3795 or visit www.mdcharternetwork.org.

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